Freedom Lumbar Disc Surgery - Anyone else?

dbalkema · #1 (**permalink**) 02-27-2009, 02:25 PM

Hey Kathy!

I am so excited that you were able to get what you wanted! I was thinking about you a couple of weeks ago and was wondering if you ever made it up to Miami.

Thats great news! I'll be thinking about you on March 17th! HAPPY DAY! You should post how recovery is going.

Dan

Kathy · #2 (**permalink**) 02-28-2009, 02:48 AM

Dan,
How are you doing? Did you feel the instant relief that everyone talks about after surgery? How bad was the stomach pain? I think I am more scared of the stomach incision pain than anything else! I am always laughing (I'm easily amused

) My two crazy friends are going to come to Florida and 'take care of me' once my husband has to leave and come back to Texas. I made them both promise to not make me laugh!
Oh, what meds were you on pre surgery? How much were you able to wean before surgery? Are you on the same now?

dshobbies · #3 (**permalink**) 02-28-2009, 03:04 AM

Kathy,

Everyone is different. I experienced very little incision pain and though your fears are your own, you may find just minor discomfort. Personally, my stomache functioning, or lack of it was a much bigger concern.

Kathy · #4 (**permalink**) 02-28-2009, 03:15 AM

Interesting, that makes me feel better. I figure I'll eat tons of fiber before and after surgery to take care of the other issue. That was my biggest fear after both my children were born! How about pain meds? I have weaned off the Kadian (morphine 20mg twice daily) and am on Vicodin 10/325 4-6 times a day. I am hoping to get that down to 2 or 3 a day. Just curious what you were on and what they had you wean to?

Cindylou · #5 (**permalink**) 02-28-2009, 02:06 PM

Interesting. My doctor hasn't had me wean off or down on any of my meds. The main thing my pain clinic said was, to be sure the hospital staff/nurses know exactly what you have been on pre-surgery so they can manage your pain levels adequately after surgery. I am only taking 1 percocet per day, but my oxycontin was upped to 3 x a day, instead of 2 x a day, which results in 10 mg x 3 = 30 mg in a 24 hour period.

Cindylou

dbalkema · #6 (**permalink**) 02-28-2009, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kathy Earhart

How bad was the stomach pain? I think I am more scared of the stomach incision pain than anything else! I am always laughing (I'm easily amused

) My two crazy friends are going to come to Florida and 'take care of me' once my husband has to leave and come back to Texas. I made them both promise to not make me laugh!
Oh, what meds were you on pre surgery? How much were you able to wean before surgery? Are you on the same now?

Kathy,
For the amount of pain meds I was on, for the first 3 days, I didn't feel a thing. After the hospital morphine got out of my system, I did feel stomach pain.

For the most part, All my pain is incision pain though. Don't feel any pain in my leg. I do have a little pain in my lower back, but I think that might be from me getting up too much. As for the laughing, yeah, you need to be careful. On the 4th day of being home, I coughed while standing, and started to tear up with the amount of pain from my stomach. All I did was took more pills and went to bed.

Before I went into surgery, I was taking Flexeril, Celebrex and Norco (As needed). I had to completely stop the Celebrex 1 week before surgery.

After surgery, They gave me another script of Norco. I started to have these Muscle spasms, which were freaking me out about 2 days getting home. So I called TBI and Dr. Guyer gave me a script of Zanaflex, Muscle Relaxers. Those really aren't working, because I am still having the spasms.

Let us now how things go after your surgery.
Dan